So. Many. Lessons.
Even though Cortney and I are no strangers to starting and running a business starting LearnSavvy has been quite a ride. And it’s been less than a year since we officially launched!
Holy Smokes!
What we’ve learned and lessons we can all take away:
Listen To Your People
Very early on we got feedback from our ideal customer and potential audience. As we heard the same things over and over we realized that we needed to move in a different direction. Had we not asked and truly listened to the responses (and what was being said between the lines), we would be still traveling a course that wasn’t serving our community and wasn’t profitable.
Lesson: Talk with your audience as much as possible and listen not only to what is being said but also what isn’t being said.
Act Quickly (+ Thoughtfully)
We had to shut down parts of our business (meaning making no $$ for half the year) in order to move in a new direction. We knew we needed to shift quickly in order to move in our new direction which was ultimately better for our audience and really fulfilled our mission.
Lesson: When it’s time to pivot/shift/change directions do it quickly. Don’t keep going down a path that isn’t working towards your ultimate goal.
Listen To Your Gut
Just two weeks ago we were invited to be interviewed on popular business show that airs on Bloomberg and Fox Business. This sounded like an awesome opportunity but when we got more details it just didn’t sit well with us. We trusted our guts and we graciously turned it down.
Lesson: Listen to your gut. If you ask yourself if it’s fear talking and you quickly ascertain it isn’t, let your gut lead you. It’s wiser than we give it credit.
Things Will Change
When Cort and I started LearnSavvy we knew she would maintain a full time job to keep the proverbial lights on – what we didn’t expect is that she would take a new position just months after launching that required 110% of her time and energy. It was a decision we made as a team and it made complete sense. That meant more on my plate temporarily but we’ve been rolling with it. We know that business is a marathon and we’re in it long-term. Who knows what tomorrow has in store but we’re keeping flexible knowing change is always around the corner.
Lesson: Be flexible and embrace that change is inevitable.
People Don’t Show Up
Even though people mean well and have good hearts sometimes they just don’t show up for you as promised. And truly it’s ok. Only after the fact do you realize that it makes big-picture sense and that it worked out as it should.
Lesson: Don’t hold hard feelings with those who meant well but their priorities have changed. The situation may change down the road or they may show up in different and better ways.
Unexpected People Do Show Up
This has been the best lesson yet. Since before we even launched, people have showed up in our lives to help us on this journey. The gals from Moola Hoop contacted us 6 months before we launched to partner up. We were introduced to the founder of Showcasing Women 2 months before she ended up gifting us her business. We have been introduced to so many amazing people who have offered to help us in unexpected ways.
Lesson: When you really put your heart out there and share your big mission, people will show up to support you.
You Won’t Make Everyone Happy
This is a lesson for so many of us, right? We try to appeal to everyone, to make everyone happy, and to make sure everyone’s needs are met. Of course, we all want to be liked. But that is so unrealistic and we have no doubt pissed some people off this year. We have lost customers, we have disappointed partners and we have dropped the ball in places we really shouldn’t have. We’ve done our best with what we have.
Lesson: You aren’t going to appeal to everyone and you can’t make everyone happy – so stop trying! It’s a losing battle and a waste of energy. Do the very best you can for the tiny sliver of the world that you are serving. Be 100% you and know you’re doing your best.
So I could go on and on with all the lessons we’ve learned but we’ll save that for things we share throughout the next year. No doubt we’ll have more things to share.
Know that we’re here alongside you traveling this crazy journey and in the coming months we have some really cool things in store for you.
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